Page 142 - June 2017

Sooner State Stakes-RG1
VF RED SURPRISE
by Dillon Hamilton
As the long shot of the field, VF Red Surprise took home her first ever stakes win in the $100,000 Sooner State Stakes-RG1 at Remington Park on May 6.
Trainer Stuart Steele, who has trained the filly since December, praised the filly’s efforts from start to finish. “She flew from the gate. She made no mistakes and ran
a perfect race,” he said.
The filly stepped in the gate at 21-1 odds against a fearsome field. She bolted from the 6-hole under jockey James Flores and the pair dueled Sam Crow to
the finish. The filly and Flores covered the 400 yards in :19.776, fighting a small crosswind and earning a 90 speed index.
VF Red Surprise had a clear lane and enough legs to properly challenge the leaders. She won by a head at the line, getting her first stakes win.
“Anytime you run against competition that good, it’ll be awful tough,” Steele said of the rest of the field. “We knew she was really fast and she was feeling good and solid.”
Steele has had horses win with long odds before, but he marked a few things that sepa- rated her from the pack. “She had everything
go her way. She’s a good gate horse, and she got lucky. It tickled the tar out of all of us.”
Steele indicated there will be more stakes plans for the filly’s future and seemed confident in her potential and training habits.
“She’s a super nice horse and tries to do everything right,” he concluded.
VF Red Surprise ran away with the $59,400 winner’s share of the purse. Her lifetime total
has peaked at $121,333 for owner Cuadra Ladrilleros Ltd. Co.
Safari Racing bred VF Red Surprise out of graded stakes placed winner Red Temptress. She has produced 100% money earners from five starters, including Grade 2 finalist Tres Of Romance. VF Red Surprise is her top earner and first stakes winner.
Sam Crow (Valiant Hero- Bourbonstreetchick) finished second under jockey Ricky Ramirez for owner Terry Baber and trainer Trey Wood. AJS High (Apollitical Jess-Regally Rare) finished third under jockey Stormy Smith for owner Michael C. Teel and trainer Charles R. Hunt.
Valiant Rogue (Valiant Hero-Azoom Babe), Ferrari James (Ivory James-Ferrari Fast Prize) & Regard With Respect (Chicks Regard-Dynamite Friends) completed the order of finish.
Bank of America Remington Park Championship Challenge-G2
SKY BO DASH
by Danny Camp
Sky Bo Dash scored his first ever stakes victory in the $114,480 Bank of America Remington Park Championship Challenge-G2 on May 14.
Trial winner and fourth fastest qualifier from the April 29 trials, Sky Bo Dash broke on top from the 3-gate in the finals and was 1/2-length in front at the first call. The gelding was urged to a driving finish by rider Ricky Ramirez, and they crossed the line a head in front, stopping the timer at :22.038 for an
82 speed index. The $52,661 winner’s share boosted the his earnings to $215,300. His connections include owner Bobby Simmons and trainer Trey Wood.
Johnny Trotter/Burnett Ranches bred Sky Bo Dash out of stakes-placed winner Sky Chicks. She has pro- duced 100% money earners from 24 starters, including Texas Classic Futurity-G1
winner/top earner High Plains Perry, stakes winners Dutch Shultz, Spike It And Fly, Rule The Skies and Leadingsire Duke Kahanamoku.
“I always knew he had it in him and I was searching for the key.” said Trey Wood. “One day we were out on the track and I pulled the blinkers off and he galloped better than ever. It’s one of those moves that’s risky, but in this case it worked
and he was more relaxed and not worried about the horses coming up behind him.
“Sky Bo is a quiet horse around the barn and an easy keeper. We have a great team and Bobby Simmons is a great owner that cares about horses.” Trey added.
“I had a hard time picking because I also qualified Torts On Fire, and they both came back from the trials in perfect shape.” admitted Ricky
Ramirez. “I chose Sky Bo because I thought he would break in front, and without blinkers, he would dig in. He ran a gutsy race.”
Rockin Disco (Rock Solid Jess-Check This Disco) was second under Benito Baca for owner Rockin J Running Horses and trainer Tammy Johnson. Three Olives N Smoke (Jess Louisiana Blue-Smokin Corona) finished third for owners Margo Schares & Brad Thomas and trainer John Hammes. Ramiro Garcia was in the irons.
A Royal Country Man (Country Chicks Man-A Royal Goddess), Torts On Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Queen Of Torts), River Wind (Furyofthewind-Dream Diva), Boogies Special Dash (Walk Thru Fire-Boogie Special), Dynamite 123 (FDD Dynasty-Tresor 123)
JZ Zoomin Wootan (Jess Zoomin-Scootan Wootan) & EOS Corona Chicks (Separatist- Remember The Cartel). completed the field.
140 SPEEDHORSE, June 2017
Remington Park $100,000 •400 yards :19.776 • si 90
Mr Jess Perry
First Prize Stanley
First Prize Dash
VF RED SURPRISE, ’13-f.
Rolls Of Romance
Red Temptress
Totally Tempting
Remington Park $114,480 • 440 yards :22.038 • si 82
First Down Dash
Bodacious Dash
St Pats Tea
SKY BO DASH, ’13-g.
Chicks Beduino
Sky Chicks
Star Crafted
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography Dustin Orona Photography